by Kate Stewart
The camera cuts to Amanda as she sobs in her hands.
Lucas folds the paper and stuffs it into his pocket. “Blake, thank you, brother, for allowing me to be a part of your legacy,” he says, raising the statue toward the room. A single tear streaks down his cheek as he addresses the camera, the applause erupting to a deafening level. “And for my legacy, my baby boy, Ronin Blake Walker. For my daughter, who I can’t wait to meet, and for my beautiful wife, Mila,” he says, looking straight at me, “I’m coming home, Dame. This time for good.”
Everyone rises to their feet, the camera cuts to several actors shedding tears before the show fades to commercial.
If this were a scene from a movie script, he would be walking through the door at this moment so I can throw my arms around him. But that’s not what happens. He has a slew of press to take care of, the sale of our house to close on, another award to accept before he lets his star dim to make room for others. His flights home get delayed due to weather. He calls me twice to tell me he loves me, but he is too busy to talk, tying up more loose ends so we can continue the new path we’ve chosen. Life isn’t anything like the movies, and as it turns out, I don’t want it to be. After a hundred and forty minutes or so the story ends, and Lucas and I have a lot more story to live out. We have grand plans for this life we’ve made together that have nothing to do with a typical Hollywood ending.
Two weeks after the Oscars, my husband walks through our front door looking more worn than I’d ever seen him. With a weary smile, he approaches quietly and takes his sleeping son in his arms, cradling him before taking my lips in a promising kiss, his tongue thrusting slowly, deeply to show the extent of how much he missed me. Dazed when he pulls away, I get lost in his soul-filled depths, and whisper two words I’ve been dying to utter since we began the new leg of our journey together. “Welcome home.”
THE END
(That’s a wrap)
This book touched on several sensitive issues I can only hope I handled with the utmost care. While Method is a work of fiction, the varying depressions discussed in the pages are very real. A staggering amount of people suffer from mental illness and continue to struggle daily for stability. If you are hurting, or if someone close to you needs help, please consider reaching out, the effort could be lifesaving or life-changing.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-8255
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Call 1-800-656-4673
A Texas native, Kate Stewart lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. She pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense because it's what she loves as a reader. Kate is a lover of all things '80s and '90s, especially John Hughes films and rap. She dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity, and on occasion, does very well at whisky.
Other titles available now by Kate
Room 212
Never Me
Loving the White Liar
The Fall
The Mind
The Heart
The Brave Line
Drive
The Real
Someone Else’s Ocean
Heartbreak Warfare
Romantic Comedy
Anything but Minor
Major Love
Sweeping the Series
Balls in Play Box Set: Anything but Minor, Major Love, Sweeping the Series, The Golden Sombrero
Erotic Suspense
Sexual Awakenings
Excess
Predator and Prey
Lust & Lies Box Set
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Thank you to everyone who took a chance on Method and any other of my titles. This job is a dream come true, and I’m forever grateful to every one of you for making it a daily reality. A thousand thank yous for every reader suggestion, every comment, every review, every tag, and every shout out. I may not always win you over, but I promise I’ll always try.
Thank you to my group, my ASSKICKERS, my loves, my soulmates, my cheerleaders, my deejays, my daily bread. There is no way I would have made it to twenty books without your encouragement and support. You are in my heart, always.
Thank you to my amazing sisters, Angela and Kristan for being there as sounding boards, part-time psychologists, and comedians. You two are such a joy to know. I love where we’ve been and how far we’ve come and love both of you more than you’ll ever know.
Thank you to my parents, Bob and Alta, for being my voice of reason, for lashing the whip with love when I need it, and for being altogether outstanding parents. I’m a lucky kid, so very, very lucky. Alta, you are both matriarch and glue. I thank God all the time that He put you in my life. You’re an incredible stepmother and friend. Thank you for always being there no matter the weather.
Thank you to my brothers, Stephen and Tommy, for being my six foot plus team of support, for the gift of your hilarious sarcasm always coated in love. You two have grown into amazing men and I’m so proud to call you my brothers. And just so you know, for me, that pic I wrote a scene around epitomizes brotherly love.
Bex—as time flies and blurs, we stick together and I’m so happy with what we’ve accomplished. There is no me without you. You continue, time and again, to be a huge support without asking for much in return but friendship. I hope I am that friend. Thank you for continuing to put up with me, for being that friend to me, and for being the best assistant on the planet. You have my heart, lady.
Christy—Thank you for shaping my world with all your love and support. Hounding you into a friendship was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My love for you is bottomless.
Autumn—I’ll always be grateful you’re the one who said yes, without reservation, without judgment. As our friendship grows, I continue to think of that day and conversation as nothing short of a miracle. I love you, truly love you. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Christine, for being both sounding board and dear friend. Your enthusiasm is infectious and appreciated so much. You’ve never let me down and you know what that means to me. I love you dearly. Thank you for the fairy dust.
Thank you, Amy Queau of Q designs, for indulging me once again and piecing together the picture from my imagination and yours to make it a reality. You are so incredibly talented and I’m so thankful you share your gift with us all.
Thank you, Stacey Ryan Blake, for being my trusty go-to girl, for honoring my requests and going above and beyond to make my books beautiful, and for having a sense of humor while doing it. Working with you is a joy and I love our friendship.
A huge thank you to my betas: Anne Christine, Christy Baldwin, Kathy Sheffler, Maïwenn Blogs, Malene Dich, Maria Consigli Black, Marissa D’Onofrio, Rhonda Bobbitt Love, Jessie Soto and Stacy Hahn who continue to take a chance on whatever I manage to drum up and take great care with the job and trust I instill in all of you. You ladies are fabulous. I love you.
To my proof-tastic team: Joy Kriebel-Sadowski, Bethany Castaneda and Grey Ditto thank you for your diligence, support and your sense of humor because without it, your task would be impossible. I love you, ladies.
Donna Cooksley-Sanderson—You hear it every day from me, but I will never be able to convey just how much I love you. You continue to surprise me by being one of the most steadfast, honest, lovable, honorable, and selfless friends I’ve ever had. So, I’ll jot it down again in writing just in case you forget. I love you. You are a blessing to me. I love your family as my own. Thank you isn’t enough.
A huge thank you to my friends: MJ Fields, Jessica Florence, Ella Fields, Ella Fox, Amy Jackson, Leigh Shen, Kennedy Ryan, Mia Sheridan, Emma Scott, Pam Godwin, Katy Regnery, Carey Heywood, Tia Louise, Ilsa Madden-Mills, and Heather Orgeron f
or all your help and input. There is no way I could have ever finished this book without your encouragement. And to all my author friends who continue to encourage me, challenge me and make this gig more bearable. I’m one lucky gal to know you and to call you friends.
Audrey Regnery—Thank you for that hug in the kitchen, you’ll never know what that meant to me. Katy, thank you for hugging me just as tight, you are truly one in a million.
Mia Sheridan—thanks for helping me flip the pieces to make them fit. I owe you one and can’t wait to deliver. You give amazing hugs.
Thank you to the ladies of DHI for being real, honest, and the bad-asses you are. You enrich my life with your wisdom, strength, and judge-free love.
Thank you to my besties—scattered in all directions of the map—for being simply amazing at your job. Erica, 143ek and always. Amanda, your laughter is music for me. Ally, you make me a happier human just by existing. Irene, how lucky are we to have met as little girls? After nearly three decades of friendship, there’s no way to sum it up, but I’m so thankful for it all.
Last but first, thank you to my husband, Nick, for continuing to put me first, for keeping my heart safe, and for loving me without limit. Today and tomorrow, I choose you. I love you. I pray for the same decision from both of us every day and always.
